Manchester Men Plead Guilty To Fentanyl Trafficking

          CONCORD – Jose Hiram Martinez Rolon, 27, of Manchester, and Billy Damuel Maldonado Cancel, 26, also of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking charges in a 7-defendant narcotics case, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

          According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and September, 2018, Maldonado conspired with other persons to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl as part of the Lucas Rios Drug Trafficking Organization.  Investigators made controlled buys of fentanyl from Maldonado in Manchester on May 14, 2018, June 13, 2018, July 26, 2018, and September 19, 2018, totaling approximately 100 grams. 

          In a separate hearing, Martinez Rolon pleaded guilty to distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl.  The evidence showed that on November 8, 2018, after an undercover officer arranged a fentanyl deal by telephone with Lucas Rios, Martinez Rolon delivered the drugs to the officer in Manchester and received a payment of $1200 cash.  The quantity of fentanyl was approximately 100 grams.

          Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2019.     

         Co-defendants Samuel Ramos and Abelino Morales-Padilla previously pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking charges in the same case.  

          “The illegal distribution of fentanyl endangers the health and safety of our citizens” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Even a small amount of this drug can be lethal.  In order to stop this deadly trade, we will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to arrest and prosecute those responsible”. 

          This matter was investigated by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis. 

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